Page 41 of Zodiac Beasts

Does this make me just as bad as him?

No, it simply wasn’t my place to police her moons. She wasn’t a slave to an Alpha, and she could decide for herself how and with whom she would spend her full moons.

I stole a glance at the dark haired woman with her nose buried in a calculus book. A curiously warm sensation crawled through my chest.

This was definitely a mistake.

Chapter 21

Physics felt distinctly different this week. Review for finals was in full swing, and yet, instead of the professor projecting his usual enthusiasm—real or stolen—Adrian seemed empty and disinterested in class. He never so much as stole a glance my way, and he wrote equations on the board mechanically.

Was he… mad about something? No, what would he be mad about? I was a burden to his integrity or something, so me being mated to Marcus should have been a relief. He no longer had to worry about me pursuing him, and he could go about his day without the stress of my unwanted attention.

Maybe something was going on in his personal life. I didn’t really know anything about him outside the moon and stars. I didn’t know his hobbies or his friends or his troubles. At least with Marcus, I knew he liked motorcycles more than most people, I knew his major and his sense of humor. I’d sat and chatted with him so many times during a night of him feeding on my blood or a morning of sharing a table at breakfast.

Even Ceto was more of an open book than Adrian.

That was probably by design. I wasn’t supposed to get close to him. We weren’t peers or friends. Even though I was in my twenties, he felt like more of an adult than any of us. I didn’t know what to make of that, but I was still inexplicably drawn to him, even if he seemed to have moved on from me.

Another class finished up, another Astrology club had come and gone, another week passed by. I sat at breakfast with Marcus, and I ate my chocolate croissant idly, lost in thought, yet contented by the presence of my mate.

What a weird concept. A few months ago, I didn’t know such a thing was possible, and now my body was calmest only when he was sitting next to me.

“I can’t wait to get finals over with and finally get some time off. This semester has been exhausting.” I said, before taking another nibble.

“You’re brilliant. You’ll be fine.” Marcus ruffled my hair, then leaned in and placed the gentlest kiss atop my head. My heart skipped a beat, and he was probably always going to have that effect on me. “And afterwards, we can enjoy the full moon together as a reward.”

“I would like that.” I stared at my tray, not sure how to approach this. “Only, it might have to wait until July’s full moon. I already promised I’d help with inventory at work that night. Summer is really busy for Threads of the Magi, and it’s just bad timing, I guess.” I shouldn’t feel guilty, but the way his whole body went rigid didn’t exactly ease my worries that I’d done something wrong. “It’s not like it’s something dangerous or anything. Just late night record keeping. I’m told the shop has wards and is protected from the moon, so there’s no danger of me shifting.” I added, feeling the need to explain.

“What about your coworker. Any danger that he might shift?” He asked in a tone that wasn’t even trying to hide his doubt and skepticism.

“No, I don’t think so. He’s uh…” I frowned. I didn’t know much about Ceto’s magical species beyond him being an Omega and a Gemini Shifter and a hybrid of some kind. We were of similar mystery. “He’ll be in the protective wards too. I assume since Threads of the Magi is really old, they probably have a lot of experience with full moon protection.” I shrugged.

“Yes, I’m sure they do.” He answered automatically but not enthusiastically. I couldn’t seem to read any emotion off of him right now. Our mate bond had made it difficult to block out feelings, and yet it was as if he could turn them on and off at will. “It’s just interesting that they would pick the full moon for an overnight shift, considering…” He paused, and this time I picked up on some vague tinge of irritation. “This guy is your friend, you said?”

“A friend.” I confirmed.

He nodded, no expression on his face. No clear opinion.

I cleared my throat. “You don’t mind, do you? I don’t have to go if you’re uncomfortable with it or anything. I didn’t think it would be a big deal if I missed one full moon with you in the grand scheme of the rest of our lives.” Now I felt weird and insecure about the whole thing. It would really be nice if he would just come out and say what he was thinking. I didn’t mind him being jealous, but I wanted him to tell me that.

“No, I don’t mind.” A glint of a smile appeared on his lips, and for a brief second, I picked up on something akin to amusement before his feelings went dark on me again. He definitely knew how to turn our connection on and off. “It would be ridiculous to turn down an important event at work over a date night, when we can ravish each other any time we want. You can make it up to me first thing in the morning.” Marcus leaned in close enough to brush his lips across my now very red cheek. He moved to my ear, and whispered. “But I suggest you bring protection if you’re going to spend a full moon with an Omega.”

“W-what.” My voice came out in a too-loud squeak, and my whole everything must have been bright red with how intensely that heat and embarrassment crawled up my neck. “How did you know—I’m not going to—I wouldn’t. You and I are mated and—”

Marcus laughed and squeezed my shoulder. “Not so loud.” He trailed his fingertips down my spine, while I sat rigidly beside him. “I can read your mind, remember? I know what your intentions are and aren’t. I’m not worried about how you feel about me versus this ‘friend’ versus anyone else.” The ‘anyone else’ was quite clear in its meaning. He kissed me on the ear, before he lowered his head to nuzzle his claim on my neck. His intensity and desire, right here and right now in the cafeteria at 7:00AM was overwhelming every one of my senses way too early in the day. If he’d shut off his emotions somehow before, he was letting that lust flow between us with full force now. “Don’t stress so much, Baby Doll. This mark right here,” he touched down with a kiss, before he touched my neck with the smooth surface of his extended fangs. In a crowded room, where I could only hope no one was paying close attention, he very subtly broke skin, only enough to take the slightest taste. The intensity of his desire flooded through me until I was damn near visibly shaking, and the sense of danger was more than I knew how to handle. “It means a lot more than you realize. You’re already mine, whether you understand it or not.” Beneath the table, his hand inched up my thigh. “Which is why I want you to experience everything your heart desires.” He snickered against my neck before he added, “like working a night shift at a clothing boutique.”

Marcus pulled away so suddenly, his absence was an even bigger shock to my system than his intimacy. A smug smile painted his face as he gave my back a good, hard pat.

I didn’t know what to say, and I was still reeling from the constant barrage and relief from his emotions. I just stared straight ahead like my mind had short circuited.

I’d never had someone treat me so possessively and loosely at the same time. I shouldn’t like that, and yet the fear and thrill and adrenaline had me clenching my thighs and fighting to catch my breath.

“I love how easy it is to rile you up.” He returned to his ketchup and eggs, shattering all tension.

I pursed my lips in his general direction.

“To be honest, this being mated thing is kind of… a lot.” I finally relaxed in my seat. I could barely look at him, I was so constantly overwhelmed by our shared emotions. I had no idea where our boundaries were, and the emotional overflow was messing with my ability to focus. “I don’t know how I’m going to get through finals when my mind doesn’t even feel like my own anymore.”